The 11 Best Pants to Wear to Work, No Matter the Season

Here's the thing about Levi's chinos—they're timeless, durable, and versatile as hell, much like the jeans that we already know and love the brand for. This style is designed to fit comfortably right below the waist, with juuust the right amount of stretch for maximum comfort, too.
Colors | 25 |
Materials | Cotton, Elastane |
Waist Sizes | 28-60 |
These may look like standard chinos, but the carefully considered details—from the button closure and size of the pockets to the wrinkle-resistant fabric and relaxed fit—put these pants into a whole (surprisingly) different league. And at less than 25 bucks, there isn't really another brand aside from Amazon Essentials doing it like this.
Colors | 14 |
Materials | Cotton, Spandex |
Waist Sizes | 29-42 |
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The beauty of Lululemon: the brand's wares, originally intended for the gym, are so sleek and so elevated that they could work for most corporate settings. Exhibit A: these easygoing trousers, which are easy and effortless enough to pair with an Oxford shirt for the office or a baggy tee for the weekend. With a stretchy fabric and pockets that have snap and zipper closures for security, you're in good hands.
Colors | 10 |
Materials | Elastomultiester, Polyester |
Waist Sizes | 28-46 |
Just because you think you're an ABC-pant loyalist doesn't mean you know you are. Rhone might just change your mind. These are ideal for the guy going from the airport to the office out to dinner. They're made with a four-way stretch fabric that's wrinkle-resistant and primed for comfort and mobility, as well as containing ample pockets (and one zippered one). Truly, these have it all.
Colors | 14 |
Materials | Polyester |
Waist Sizes | 29–40 |
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Agolde's pants put a laidback spin on the traditional tailored trouser. The pleat front detailing gives the air of sophistication while the wide-leg fit encourages breathability. Wear them with a fitted or baggy top—you are going to look cool as heck regardless.
Colors | 7 |
Waist Sizes | 28–36 |
Materials | Regenerative Cotton |
As far as jeans go, we're putting Radmor on this list because they know how to make a comfortable pair of denim that doesn't inhibit movement. You might be curious as to why we included a golf brand here, but it's because the founders have been mastering these pants for 25 years—taking the technical elements of the sport and fusing them into an everyday stretch denim. Trust the pros.
Colors | 3 |
Waist Sizes | 30–40 |
Materials | Organic Cotton, Recycled Cotton, Recycled Poly, Elastane |
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Maybe it's the corduroy or maybe it's the subtle brown hue. Regardless, something about these pants just screams fall. But that's not why they made this list. It's all about the details: an elasticized drawstring waist delivers customizable comfort, two front pockets and two back pockets made for added convenience and the hem of the pants hits perfectly at the ankle (ideal for pairing with Chelsea boots or loafers).
Colors | 1 |
Sizes | XS–3XL |
Materials | Organic Cotton |
J.Crew does its best-selling Giant-Fit Chino to perfection (so much so, in fact, that we officially Endorsed it), but of course, the brand also has a classic slim-fit chino for the guys who like a more traditional look. And if you like variety, the brand makes the same shape in a ton of color options.
Colors | 16 |
Materials | Cotton, Elastane |
Waist Sizes | 28-44 |
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Stretchier and softer than jeans, these straight-leg pants feature five pockets and a versatile design. The tailored silhouette is easy to dress up or down; reach for your favorite penny loafers or your most scuffed-up sneakers and see for yourself.
Colors | 8 |
Materials | Cotton, Elastane |
Waist Sizes | 28-40 |
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If you're down to get designer with it, nobody does it quite like Ferragamo. Sartorial detailing includes inserted hip pockets, a back welt pocket, an encased waistband fastening, and of course, pressed pleats on both sides of the pants. They're sleek, sharp, and completely classy.
Colors | 5 |
Waist Sizes | 33/34–38/40 |
Materials | Virgin wool |

Choosing the right pair of work pants isn't rocket science, but with so many options out there, narrowing it down can certainly seem that way. To make your decision a bit easier, consider the season, the versatility of the pants, and what the rest of your wardrobe looks like.
For instance, you're going to love linen a lot more than you'll love wool in summer. By all means, stock up on both, but if you want a pair to wear now, reach for the style you can wear immediately.
Some of these pants are easy to dress up or down, and some aren't. Styles with a pleat have a little bit more formality, whereas options like Levi's can be worn with a tank top and sneakers.
Also, if you're stocked up on chinos already, it might be time to reach for a pair of pants that's a bit outside the norm for you but still works with everything from an oxford shirt to a graphic tee.
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When it comes to work pants, you can rest assured that we're hand-selecting styles that we've personally tested, tried, and loved, along with styles that the rest of our stylish colleagues here at Esquire endorse. These are the pants we actually wear to the office (or the ones we wish we did). We've had to go through a lot of trial and error, and these pants are the ones that are simply the best.
Every pick on this list (and our other lists!) comes from years of wearing different things, seeing what we love and what we don't, and going from there. No two tastes are the same, and no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you're looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.
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